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Ebonite Pens You Have Or Recommend As Of 2018

IndigoBOB

By IndigoBOB
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sansenri Donor Pen

sansenri

Posted
Posted (edited)

But there are many other lovely ebonite pens not coming from India, and not just vintage.

Bexley has made several extremely nice ebonite pens.

This is an Owner's Club 2009 in olive-black ebonite with 18k B nib.

fpn_1540061498__p1160587-3_bexley_oc_200

 

This is a Bexley Owner's Club 2013 in blue-black ebonite (steel Bock nib)

fpn_1540061830__p1160661-3_bexley_oc_201

 

And this one is a Bexley Owner's Club 2016 in a darker blue-black (with a Bexley branded Jowo M steel nib)

fpn_1540068162__p1160667-3_bexley_oc_201

Edited by sansenri
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inkstainedruth Ancient Artifact

inkstainedruth

Posted
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I like ebonite very much for all the reasons which have been mentioned here, and I am fond of Ranga pens, among others.

Regarding the Ranga 3, it used to be my favourite Ranga size until the 8B came along. Both of them are now really favourites.

The tapering end of the Ranga 8B tends to shorten it a bit and changes the balance slightly.

The Ranga 3 can be customized to be shorter, just ask Mr. Kandan, they will be happy to accomodate.

The Ranga 8 is also a very nice model, well balanced but slightly thinner, check it for size first.

The Asa Genius is very similar to the Ranga 3 but comes shorter by default, it was designed to be a pocket pen. It's a lovely size in the hand, I only had a little trouble with mine with ink starving, and I had to work a bit both on the nib and on the feeder channel (ED version).

Here is a comparison Ranga model 8, 8B, 3C with modified section like the 8B, 4C. Note that the section of model 3 and 4 is identical, the barrel is different (it has a step down in the model 4).

fpn_1540060443__p1140772-3_ranga_8_8b_3c

 

Wow! Some of those are drop-dead gorgeous! :drool:

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

"It's very nice, but frankly, when I signed that list for a P-51, what I had in mind was a fountain pen."

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Penman222 Vintage

Penman222

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I use an ASA "I Can" with an ebonite body and feed. Really turned out to be a great writing pen once I got the nib and feed properly adjusted. It is a BIG pen

 

 

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sciumbasci Vintage

sciumbasci

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Anyone knows if ASA or Ranga are willing to produce one of their pens in a smaller size, say no more bigger than a Lamy Safari?

 

Some of their pens are actual war clubs...

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Lloyd Donor Pen

Lloyd

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Anyone knows if ASA or Ranga are willing to produce one of their pens in a smaller size, say no more bigger than a Lamy Safari?

 

Some of their pens are actual war clubs...

Ask them. When I ordered my Ranga, I asked for a #4c but gave specific dimensions for length and girth (grip of approximately 12mm and capped length of 6"). That pen is fantastic. It far exceeded expectations.

"Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination."

Oscar Wilde

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sansenri Donor Pen

sansenri

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Wow! Some of those are drop-dead gorgeous! :drool:

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

Yes, Ruth, if you do not have a Ranga I recommend you try one sooner or later. They are never too expensive pens, the premium ebonite models are in the $80-90 range with converter (but the fantastic materials justify the cost), but if you are happy with an ED the cost can be easily contained in around $60.

Consider also that ED version gives you an ebonite feed, which IMO is a great advantage with flow, and if you do not wish to risk an Indian nib you can ask Mr. Kandan to fit a Bock nib for very reliable result.

If you are happy with standard ebonite colours (some of them are nice, the blue ripple far right for example) you will spend even less.

I have collected quite a few, some are really fantastic writers, particularly the ED versions. For smaller size (some can be big) stay with the model 8 (first one on the left), and don't adventure beyond model 3 or 8B (model 4 is biggish and model 5 is unbearably big, IMO...).

Ranga is also very flexible in accommodating any kind of customization (shorter size, different shaped section, etc.).

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sansenri Donor Pen

sansenri

Posted
Posted (edited)

Anyone knows if ASA or Ranga are willing to produce one of their pens in a smaller size, say no more bigger than a Lamy Safari?

 

Some of their pens are actual war clubs...

 

They used to have a model 2 which was small, but it's not easy to find on their online offer, it seems to be rarely requested (if you ask them, they'll make you one, surely).

Model 8 is really a very nice size, slightly smaller width compared to a Montblanc 146, but longer. The section is narrower, hourglass shaped and quite a bit longer. 8B is also a nice size, very comfortable due to the hourglass shaped section, despite a larger barrel.

Reminds me vaguely of the Stipula Etruria shape.

Edited by sansenri
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sansenri Donor Pen

sansenri

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More ebonite Bexleys. They feel very different from Indian ebonite pens, which I also love. :)

 

fpn_1540172400__img_1012.jpg

 

Very true, the Bexley ebonite pens have a perceivable touch of higher manufacturing perfection vs Ranga, but I enjoy both also.

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sansenri Donor Pen

sansenri

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size comparison if useful

Montblanc 146 vs Ranga 8 vs Aurora Optima

(sorry for the nasty reflections in artificial light, it was a quick photo)

fpn_1540240568__img_1392-3_ranga_8_blue_

 

fpn_1540240709__img_1391-3_ranga_8_blue_

 

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sansenri Donor Pen

sansenri

Posted
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I must also add the Deccan Majaz

 

this is a lovely pen, it is made in one single piece of ebonite, it's an ED and you fill it by unscrewing the nib.

The section was custom threaded to take Pelikan M200/M400/M600 nibs. I have fitted a vintage 14k nib on it.

 

fpn_1512728951__deccan_majaz-3.jpg

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Honeybadgers Donor Pen

Honeybadgers

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If it comes out of india, it's probably going to be pretty good.

 

My FPR himalaya, my ranga 8C, my noodlers boston safety & noodlers neponset (don't buy a neponset unless you just want to look at it)... All amazing.

 

I love my woodgrain ebonite bexley but the 18k stub on it still sucks. I was hoping my oblique semiflex 14k mont blanc monte rosa would fit it, but it's not quite right.

 

when I get around to it, ebonite will probably be the material I work with most on the lathe.

Edited by Honeybadgers

Selling a boatload of restored, fairly rare, vintage Japanese gold nib pens, click here to see (more added as I finish restoring them)

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sansenri Donor Pen

sansenri

Posted
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recommendation for Ruth,

there's a Ranga group buy on now, chance to get to try a Ranga ebonite (the ED are very reasonably affordable, but do ask Mr. Kandan to fit a Bock nib in instead of a Kanwrite...)

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bobje Collectors Item

bobje

Posted
Posted

Airmail/Wality, ASA and Ranga in India. Bexley in the USA. Different price ranges and levels of finish and furniture, and all excellent values.

Reviews and articles on Fountain Pen Network

 

CHINA, JAPAN, AND INDIA

Hua Hong Blue Belter | Penbbs 456 | Stationery | ASA Nauka in Dartmoor and Ebonite | ASA Azaadi | ASA Bheeshma | ASA Halwa | Ranga Model 8 and 8b | Ranga Emperor

ITALY AND THE UK

FILCAO Roxi | FILCAO Atlantica | Italix Churchman's Prescriptor

USA, INK, AND EXPERIMENTS

Bexley Prometheus | Route 54 Motor Oil | Black Swan in Icelandic Minty Bathwater | Robert Oster Aqua | Diamine Emerald Green | Mr. Pen Radiant Blue | Three Oysters Giwa | Flex Nib Modifications | Rollstoppers

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